LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB, AP) -- The University of Louisville today confirmed that assistant football coach Clint Hurtt and the university have received a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding alleged violations from Hurtt's time as recruiting coordinator at Miami.
A U of L spokesman could not provide more detail regarding the documents, which are being reviewed by university athletic department officials, but confirmed that "none of the allegations occurred at U of L."
U of L first confirmed that the coach had received the notice this morning with Yahoo! Sports Pat Forde, but declined to provide further details.
An Associated Press report citing an unnamed source says Hurtt could be facing the most serious charges the NCAA can level.
The AP report said that the NCAA believes Hurtt and former Maimi assistants Aubrey
Hill and Jorge Fernandez provided false or misleading information during
the probe into the Hurricanes' athletic department.
The NCAA said all three violated "principles of ethical
conduct" as part of the notice of allegations served against the
Hurricanes, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press
Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the allegations have not
been released publicly.
Hurtt and Hill were members of Miami's football staff. Fernandez worked on the men's basketball staff.
Several
other coaches are named or referenced in the allegations, including
Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith. But only Hurtt, Hill and
Fernandez are facing the ethical-conduct charge, commonly known as NCAA
Rule 10.1.
The notice of
allegations was delivered to Miami on Tuesday, and the university is
facing the charge that it had a "lack of institutional control" — one of
the worst things the NCAA can levy against a member school. The charge
revolves around how the school allegedly failed to monitor conduct of
Nevin Shapiro, a rogue booster and convicted felon who provided cash,
gifts and other items to players on the football and men's basketball
teams.
University President Donna Shalala said Tuesday night that
the Hurricanes have suffered enough already through self-imposed
sanctions. Through a university spokesman, she declined further comment
Wednesday.
The NCAA said Hurtt and Hill committed the same violations, at least related to the ethical-conduct matter.
The
NCAA alleged both provided meals, transportation and lodging to either
recruits, current players, or both in either 2008 or 2009. Both were
interviewed by the NCAA during the course of its probe and allegedly
denied providing those extra benefits, statements the NCAA said were
contradicted in each case by what players told them separately.
Hurtt is alleged to have paid for meals at restaurants using Shapiro's credit card, as well as providing impermissible transportation and lodging to recruits. CBS' Bruce Feldman reported last month that Hurtt might face additional charges to those originally made to Yahoo! Sports by Shapiro.
Several Miami players served suspensions at the beginning of last season for their part in recruiting violations.
A source close to Hurtt and the U of L program said today that Hurtt says he has a strong defense and will aggressively seek to counter the charges against him.
Check WDRB.com for more details throughout the day.
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